Improvement in grain-cars



T. w. WRIGHT.

vGrain-Gars.

Paented July 7,1874.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERICK W. WRIGHT, oF JERsEY CITY, NEW .IERsEY IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,787, dated July 7, 1874; application filed January 8, 187'2.

' but in unloading these cars the services of a large number of men are required to shovel out the grain and empty the cars, and in so doing the grain is liable to be injured, and a loss resultfrom the scattering of the grain. Cars have been made with hopper-shaped bottoms; but they are not adapted to anything but grain, and would have to be returned empty to the grain-supply market.

The object of :my invention is to adapt the car to transporting either grain or general merchandise. I accomplish this by employing a hopper beneath the bottom of the car, and at the ends of the car are inclined movable platforms that serve to shoot the grain into the hopper. These can be moved out of the way when the car is used for freight or general merchandise.

In the drawing, Figure l is a cross-section of the car in condition to receive grain, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

The sides a, ends b, top c, bottom d, and doors e are of the usual character employed in freight or merchandise cars, with the eX- ception that the bottom d is made with a central hopper, f, at the bottom of which is the discharge-tube g and gate h. This gate 'h is made as shown in plan, Fig. 3, With triangular radial segments united in a circular plate or ring, and a similar plate cast with or attached to the dischargetube, so the deliveryopenings between these triangular segments may be opened or closed by turning the gate h. A lock should be provided for this gate. Above'the hopper is the sectional platform k, resting in rabbets, so as to be level with the floor when closed down, as shown by dotted lines; but when turned up, as indicated by full lines, these platform-sections form the interior doors at the openings of the grain-cars. These sections ofthe platform should be hinged at i. The movable platforms l Z, toward the ends ofthe car, are placed at such an angle that grain can run down the same, and these are to be taken out of the way when the car is not employed for grain.

I prefer that these inclined platforms should be made of iron, and each in two parts, hinged at o o, at the outer edges, to the interior of the car, so as to allow of being turned up against the sides of the car, as shown by dotted lines, when the oar is being used for transporting ordinary merchandise.

I prefer that the hopper f should be made of metal, so as to be strong, and not liable to allow of waste through crevices, and for this purposeV either cast or Wrought iron may be em ployed.

I claim as my invention- The inclined platforms l, introduced toward the ends of the car, and made removable, in combination with a delivery-hopper, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 3d day of January, 187 2.

FREDERICK `W. WRIGHT.

fitnesses GEO. T. PINCKNEY, GHAs. H. SMITH. 

